Hands on with Monster Energy Supercross – The Official Videogame 2

It’s raining as I idle at the starting gate, peering down the track. Droplets of rain cling to the camera, obscuring my view every so slightly. Bikes roar around me, engines revving as we wait for the race to begin, I can almost taste the gasoline fumes in the air. The race begins, and my competitors speed away. I manage to plow into one of the first available tuff blocks. I’m not the only one; around the room, scattered across the various consoles, other reviewers are seeing their races end much the same way, time and again. Monster Energy Supercross – The Official Videogame 2 is far more difficult than the first–and that’s great.

It’s obvious that a huge amount of care and thought went into the mechanics of Supercross 2. While it’s not as easy to pick up as the last game, it’s far more responsive and customizable, creating a more realistic experience. Players looking to further fine-tune Supercross 2 can look to the menu, which has a robust selection of controls which can be edited, customized, and optimized. Milestone, the developer, has added in optional new ways to help you boost your speed and win your race. These come in the form of blue arching arrows, which serve as slip-stream assists. Position yourself near one of those arrows, and the game will help pull you where you need to be, giving you a little extra control during your ride. It can be turned off, but was very appreciated as we got to know the new feel of Monster Energy Supercross.

One of my favorite parts of my hands-on with Supercross 2 was feeling the difference the weather had on the track. During sunny days, the track had a familiar feel, but when it rained, everything changed. The controls felt slightly sticky, as if bogged down by the mud of the track. Riders quickly built up heavy coating of mud across their uniforms, and when combined with the previously mentioned raindrops lingering on the camera, really set the feel of a drizzly day.

As this title was just announced, the build we got to play with was very early, and while it had the core mechanics in place, there’s still a long way to go before its February 8, 2019 launch, especially where cosmetics are concerned. Because of this, we weren’t able to capture or film any gameplay, but we did have a great laugh when Supercross racer Justin Barcia came by to play, with live (and savage!) commentary by announcers Ralph Sheheen and Jeff Emig.

The career mode is a new addition to Monster Energy Supercross 2, and while we weren’t able to dive too deeply into this part of the game, we were given some exciting new details. Building fame and keeping your fans excited will be a vital part of the game, as you’ll have to attract sponsors in order to afford the right gear to keep you at the top of your game. Built to help fans get an understanding of what really goes into a successful Supercross career, you’ll have to not only win races, but manage media relations, balance rivalries with other racers, and attend enough events to keep your name on the tip of everyone’s tongue.

Monster Energy Supercross – The Official Videogame 2 brings a host of exciting updates, including more challenging gameplay, tons of customization, and the career mode offering a whole lot more to do within the game, and even a first-person view. While still in the early stages, it’s a solid build, and I can’t wait to see what it looks like when it comes to PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC, and Nintendo Switch on February 8, 2019.

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